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http://www.urbanjunkies.com/london/nightlife/
Weekend Guide

Right you lot: out. Go on now, get. I'm not standing for any more of this 'sitting inside in the dark' rubbish. You, me, and a couple of cold beers outside, now.

I don't care whether it's packed outside 93 Feet East with the many, spending the night with Thomas Adès, or the million cracking bands at Lovebox.

There's plenty to head in for in the evenings, but if I catch a single one of you avoiding the sunshine, my will there be trouble.

http://www.urbanjunkies.com/london/nightlife/
This weekend's picks: Sign up to receive your daily fix automatically
FRI ARCHITECTURE ROCKS SAT PARK NIGHTS SUN LOVE BOX
FRIDAY

musicThe First Night of the Proms
You just need to utter the words, 'Night at the Proms' and immediately that gorgeous, RP, middle-class, BBC tingle of joy runs amok over your classical nerves. Snap up one of the last clusters of seats, and settle in for what will undoubtedly be a glorious night of Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven and Scriabin, with a centenary focus on Elliott Carter and Messiaen, and featuring three fantastic soloists.

Time:
8-10:30pm
Place:
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP
Cost:
£5-£44
Info:
bbc.co.uk/proms

MusicFrench Revolution V
It's not as political as it sounds. Trust me. So no smart-ass wielding acrylic pound-shop pistols in Gendarme get-up. Although that might actually be quite funny. This revolution is all about the ferocious double-speed keyboards and slick '80s vocals of Poni Hoax, backed-up by Curry and Coco's post-techno electropunk. All you gotta do is turn up, pay nowt, gyrate and go home wasted. Revolution has never been so easy.

Time:
7pm-1am
Place:
93 Feet East, 150 Brick La, E1 6QL
Cost:
Free
Info:
urbanjunkies.com/london

NightlifeArchitecture Rocks
The London Festival of Architecture has been, without a doubt, one of the finest cultural projects to hit our beloved city in years. It has scattered the streets around us with visually arresting structures and a swathe of quirky, architecturally-tinged events, altering the very fabric of the city. And so, this evening, why not bid farewell at this official adieu before the weekend finale launches with tomorrow's Cheapside Market resurrection.

Time:
6-11:45pm
Place:
Bloomsbury Ballroom, 37-63 Bloomsbury Sq, WC1B 4DA
Cost:
£15
Info:
lfa2008.org
SHOP

Mulberry
These days, brooches come in all shapes and sizes - no longer just Grandma's Labrador, 'it reminds me of little Fido' types or Cameo clichés. Mulberry continue their quest to corner the accessories market with this quirky Sawtooth Brooch made of jewels, nuts and bolts nestled in the folds of a zipper. Definitely not geriatric friendly.

Info:
Sawtooth Broach , £79
Shop
SATURDAY

MusicPark Nights
Blimey, architects are a talented lot aren't they? After only six months between conception and completion, several Swiss shipments and giant broken glass panes later, the Serpentine's Summer Pavilion is finally ready for her first nocturnal jaunt. Behold the internationally renowned, bedazzling composer-cum-piano teaser, Thomas Adès, as he whips up a classical frenzy to kicks her off in the cordially spectacular manner she deserves.

Time:
8pm
Place:
ISerpentine Gallery Pavillion, Kensington Gdns, W2 3XA
Cost:
£5-£50
Info:
serpentinegallery.org

FilmBirth of a Nation + Q&A with Jonas Mekas
There's a panoply of things which are essential yet seem invisible to the untrained eye: well-applied make-up, the sun's apparent existence this Summer, alcohol-induced short term memory loss. Turns out avant-garde filmmaker Jonas Mekas feels likewise about the underground activists who gave birth to the burgeoning 'nation' of independent film. His manifesto "we are the cinema" should clear any doubt.

Time:
4pm
Place:
Curzon Soho, 99 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 5DY
Cost:
£9-£12
Info:
curzoncinemas.com

DJLove Music Hate Racism
Do you absolutely hate racism? Do you thoroughly love music? Furthermore, and perhaps most vitally, do you go weak at the knees for some serious artery melting, ear smothering, gut warbling bass? Then this, my fellow mash-upites, might have been made just for you. Expect everything from grime and dubstep to reggae, rocksteady and some dirty electro naughtiness from the Hyponik brigade. Who needs working ears on Sunday anyway?

Time:
9pm-3am
Place:
Herbal, 12-14 Kingsland Rd, E2 8DA
Cost:
£6
Info:
hyponik.com
COMPETITION

Perfect Commute Home
Commuting just got painless with the Pilsner Urquell Perfect Commute Home. Switch bus seats for massage chairs, trade your gnarled Sudoku for a Wii, and replace the stench of sweaty tubes for a barbeque on board a luxury river boat service. UJ have three pairs of tickets to give away for the 23rd July 5:30pm departure. Just tell us what the worst thing about your commute home is.

Info:
Tell us
Hear
SUNDAY

musicLove Box Weekender
You turned your nose up at Glasto (too many stoners, not enough showers) and Camp Bestival (too many families, not enough festival). So how's this: it's local (ish), it's a proper weekender, there's everyone from Hayseed Dixie to Flaming Lips, Love the Bunny are hosting a sexy VIP bit for when you fancy a festival-pamper, and Mulletover are throwing an official monster after-party. Try turning your nose up at that.

Time:
12-10pm
Place:
Victoria Park, E9
Cost:
Main event £38.50 for today, Love the Bunny £99-£150
Info:
lovebox.net

TheatreAlmeida Summer Festival: Theatre of Possibilities
Excuse me, but did I hear you correctly? What is this you say? The life of an eighty-year-old American artist fellow, who liked daubed paint, big canvases, bright colours and graffiti-like gestures is exploded into three dimensions with the premiere of composer John Cage's notational genius and live mezzo soprano Sally Burgess? Hold on, I need to sit down. I'm feeling dizzy.

Time:
7pm
Place:
Almeida Theatre, Almeida St, N1 1TA
Cost:
£6 - £18
Info:
urbanjunkies.com/london

Music
Chuck Berry
He may be 81, but his charisma and patriarchal reign of rock 'n' roll remains as fresh as it did in 1955. He's still the master of his very own (and oft-pinched) legendary 'duckwalk' move, had his record sent beyond the solar system, and Rolling Stone have rated 'Johnny B. Goode' as the best guitar song of all time. Better see him quick, before the aliens get their hands on him.

Time:
8pm
Place:
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ
Cost:
£35-£45
Info:
hackneyempire.co.uk
TODAY

London Literature Festival: Simon Armitage and Lavinia Greenlaw
Dry as a good tonic, Simon Armitage chats about the musical testimony behind his book 'Gig' and Lavinia Greenlaw exposes what really is 'The Importance of Music for Girls'. A rock 'n' roll love affair as inspiration for genius poetry? Nice.

Info:
Click Here
Agenda
EAT

The Beehive
When Claudio Pulze was revamping one of London's oldest pubs, the Beehive, Marylebone locals made sure they had their say: the carpet could go but they didn't want it changed too much and they would appreciate it if he could keep the flowers outside looking fresh to brighten the place up. The accommodating restaurateur obliged.

He also brought in a team of cooks - rather than one particular 'named' chef - because he wanted good food but didn't want the place to be known as a gastropub. He's going to have some trouble keeping it that way, however, if he continues to serve such perfectly pink cote de boeuf, crispy-battered fish and chips and satisfying sausage and mash.

On top of the don't-call-it-gastropub food, Pulze has brought in some of the London beers he produces at his Brew Wharf microbrewery, varying them every now and again, as well as fruity options like Fruli strawberry beer from Belgium and St Helier Pear Cider from Sweden.

Like a local - only better.

Hours:
Mon-Fri 12pm-11pm / Sat & Sun 10.3am-11pm CHK
Place:
126 Crawford Street, W1U 6BF
Cost:
£20
Web:
thebeehive-pub.co.uk
Book:
020 7486 8037

belowzero
This underground drinking den, next to the gimmicky Absolut Ice Bar, has long been known as a good late night standby but never renowned for its food - how many underground drinking dens are, let's face it?

But as Heddon Street has gradually cleaned up its act, with the addition of places like chic brunch hangout Aubaine, belowzero, it seems, has done the same, giving the place a good spruce-up (the interior is now a whole lot slicker and sexier) and welcoming the very qualified Sean Marshall (formerly of Bank and Oxo Tower) into the kitchen.

Marshall has poshed up the menu no end, introducing starters like galantine of wild smoked salmon with mascarpone and keta and avruga caviar, and mains like black gilt head bream with pickled fennel and samphire.

Or there is the rather civilised terrace out front where you can opt for a simpler mediterranean menu and take advantage of the very reasonable lunch deal - two courses with a side and a beer or a glass of wine for £16.

belowzero may have just gone up in our estimations.


Hours:
Mon-Weds 12.30-11pm / Thurs-Sat 12.30pm-12am
/ Sun 3.30-11pm (drinks only)
Place:
31-33 Heddon Street, W1B 4BN
Cost:
£30
Web:
belowzerolondon.com
Book:
020 7478 8910
http://www.urbanjunkies.com/london/nightlife/
Weekend guide by AC & SH, food reviews by SL
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